Category Archives: News

Kentucky metal veterans Downtrend have announced today that lead vocalist Mike Jackson is stepping away from the band due to unforeseen circumstances. The band formed in 2004 and has went through a few lineup changes since then. The band retains founding members Josh Crum and Jeremy Chaney. Long time member drummer J.D. Hall completes the current lineup. Hall and Chaney were also formerly bandmates in the crushingly heavy group Voices Of Aggression. The chemistry among these three gents is amazing, which can be heard in their music and seen live when they take the stage. The band’s first lead singer when they formed was Steve Damron and at that time the band had an old school heavy metal sound similar to maybe Dio or Judas Priest. His vocal abilities along with the talents of the band made anyone within earshot of their music an immediate fan. Unfortunately, he left the band in 2004. Downtrend then took some time to regroup and reformed with Daryl Amburgey taking over vocal duties. His style drastically changed Downtrend’s style but in a positive way. He delivered not only amazing vocals but incredible lyrics as well. The music while Daryl was at the help took more of an emo or post-hardcore type vibe. The band of course stayed true to their heavy roots and shredding guitar riffs. Daryl exited the band in 2008 and the band was once again auditioning vocalists. This is when Whitesburg native Mike Jackson stepped up to the mic and became the frontman of the band for almost a decade. Mike truly added a southern metal sound to the band. Along with his harmonica playing his onstage swagger and vocal dominance would be a staple of Downtrend’s uniqueness. The time has come again for the band to search for another singer. After speaking with guitarist Josh Crum we have learned the band has auditioned a few vocalists around the region including West Virginia native Joey Ferris, Jason “Brew” Brewer, Michael McKay Combs (Voices Of Aggression) and Shawn Williams (Hollow). While the auditions are still ongoing the band had a scheduled show opening for Bullet Boys at The Appalshop Theater in Whitesburg, Kentucky. The band has stated they will have a “guest vocalist” for this show which sources say will be Michael McKay Combs. Mike certainly has the ability to take over the void left in the band. He was the deep baritone vocalist of Voices Of Aggression which bassist Jeremy Chaney and J.D. Hall were also a part of. While I’m told everyone is still in the running for this position you can see a live audition when the band takes the stage opening for Bullet Boys.

Auditions continue and if interested in becoming the new voice of Downtrend email downtrend@hotmail.com

For tickets to see Bullet Boys & Downtrend’s special performance go here.

Record Store Day 2017 is upon us! In just a few, short weeks, exclusive releases by artists – ranging from Johnny Cash to Warbringer – will be available for purchase in record stores across the globe. And it is confirmed that among the vinyl releases there will be a limited run of a special Enslaved LP coming on Saturday, April 22nd! The legendary, progressive black metal band’s first official live album, Roadburn Live, will chronicle Enslaved’s performance at Roadburn Festival 2015 in Tilburg, Netherlands. Continue reading →

Carolina Rebellion has become one of the most anticipated festivals, not only this year but each and every year. Carolina Rebellion along with Welcome To Rockville are really the two events that kick off the festival season. Headliners this year at Rebellion are Sound Garden, A Perfect Circle, Def Leppard, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and The Offspring. Not on is the lineup strong but it is diverse both in the headliners and the lower bands on the bill. The festival returns on May 5th, 6th, and 7th at Rock City Campgrounds in Concord, North Carolina. Don’t waste anymore time and pick up your tickets here. Continue reading →

California extreme metal veterans EXHUMED formed in 1990, went on hiatus in 2005, and reformed in 2010. Since their reformation they have release two albums ‘All Guts, No Glory’ (2011) and ‘Necrocracy’ (2013). The band has now entered the studio to record their sixth studio album and follow-up to 2013’s ‘Necrocracy’. Four years of waiting has certainly made this album one of the most highly anticipated albums releases of 2017. And for fans they can relax that the wait is almost over. The album will be entitled ‘Death Revenge’ and will see a late 2017 release via Relapse Records.

Los Angeles/London rock band Die So Fluid has released “Bittersweet,” the debut single taken from their long awaited 5th LP, ‘One Bullet From Paradise’. Produced by Drew Richards. After a year of turmoil and tragedy in 2016 – which saw the sudden and unexpected death of their beloved friend & drummer Al Fletcher – the remaining 2 band members Grog & Mr Drew stepped back to contemplate not only the meaning of life; but the meaning of their band, their music and their future. Al had been a huge part of Die So Fluid’s sound. He’d won a Grammy for his drumming and his finesse, thunder, power, enthusiasm & creativity always enhanced the band’s rough, tough, soaring, bittersweet rock songs. At the time of his death Grog and Mr Drew had written a bunch of songs for a new album but nothing had been recorded. After a period of reflection they went back to the drawing board. They had a lot more to say. They wrote new songs. No holds barred. Harder, heavier, faster, punkier. No filler. No fat. No fucking around. Life is short. Why wait for tomorrow. They asked friend Justin Bennett (Skinny Puppy, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult) to play drums on the album. Grog recorded bass & vocals in LA, Mr Drew recorded guitars, synths, loops and noises in London and Justin recorded the drums in Bologna, Italy. ‘One Bullet From Paradise’ is the title of the new album. “Bittersweet” is the first single to be taken from it. Continue reading →

Via Danny Wimmer Presents, nu metal band Korn talks about what drives them in why they love playing music. Vocalist Jonathan Davis and guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer discuss some of their inspirations and how much the crowd means to them at shows. You can view the video below. Korn will be performing at Carolina Rebellion on May 6th, Rock on the Range on May 20th, and Chicago Open Air on July 15th. It was also just announced today that Korn will be opening for Rammstein alongside Stone Sour in Las Vegas on July 1st at the T-Mobile Arena. The show is also being presented by DWP and tickets go on sale Friday, March 31st. Be sure to follow the band on Facebook for tour updates and Danny Wimmer Presents for more exclusive content.

Founded in 2011 Melodic death metal act Lost To The Waves are about to release their latest EP ‘Nightfall’ on March 31st. The follow up to their 2015 EP ‘Elegy’. The Massachusetts 5 piece don’t only want your attention they demand it with their fierce riffs and deadly to the core vocal approach. With their technical approach to deathcore they are easily one of the best up and coming bands in all of metal. Their upcoming EP was recorded by Sean Fitzpatrick at The Brick Hithouse, and it was mastered by the famed Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Four Year Strong, Defeater, Code Orange). Lost To The Waves are exclusively premiering the track “Ghosts Of Autumn” right here on Metal Nexus. The song begins with a somber tone but quickly delves into the bands much heavier style. The band showcases riff’centric style along with those deep harsh vocals they are known for. The technical aspects of the guitar playing is mesmerizing as they dance around inside your ear drums. Lost To The Waves showcase the perfect ratio of vocals and instrumentation. Allowing each the appropriate amount of time shine. This track is just a snippet of what’s to come on this EP. March 31st can’t come soon enough for most fans to get their hands on this release. Until then use “Ghosts Of Autumn” as an appetizer until we can feast our ears on ‘Nightfall’ in its entirety. Continue reading →

Defeated Sanity’s Facebook page had hinted at a major announcement coming, but I did not expect anything as huge as this! Without a doubt, this has to be one of, if not THE, sickest North American tour happening this summer. And its official, folks – Gorguts will be trekking across the states with both Defeated Sanity and Exist! Perhaps Metal Nexus will be covering one of these shows??

Making their return to the Western hemisphere, Gorguts are fresh off the roads of Australia and New Zealand, having toured down under with Marduk throughout this month of March. Now before the tech death legends embark on this tour of the states, they will be heading out next month for some Canadian dates with Dysrhythmia, the prog metallers who share members with the reincarnated Gorguts. Ultimately, Luc Lemay and the gang will be headlining Covenant Montreal which takes place April 13th-15th – this festival is sister to Covenant Festival in Vancouver, both of which are weekend gatherings to celebrate the music of Death with performances by multiple extreme metal bands, comprising lineups that can be found here. After this tour of their homeland, Gorguts is state-bound, kicking things off in Syracuse at Lost Horizon on June 3rd. Rest assured, I think we can expect to hear some of the critically acclaimed Pleiades’ Dust EP performed on this tour! Continue reading →

Portland, Oregon is rich with music history. The home to such bands as Toxic Holocaust, Red Fang, and YOB. However, the Northwest extreme death metal horde DEAD CONSPIRACY herald something that no other Portland based band can take from them. DEAD CONSPIRACY is credited with being Portland’s first-ever death metal act, and one of the first in the world. Formed in 1986, the band was a pioneering influence on multitudes of blackened death and thrash metal bands worldwide. A series of demo tapes followed before the band sunk into the shadows in the early-90s. Hells Headbangers Records contacted the band in 2006 in an effort to release their demos on a compilation album. The result was the 19-track ‘Gore Drenched Legacy’. That release awakened the beast and in 2012 the band returned with a new lineup including Mike Abominator formerly of Gravehill on vocals and new drummer Eric A. DEAD CONSPIRACY’s first live appearance took place at 2012’s Goregon Massacre Festival III. Since then the band has been brutalizing their way back to their rightful place in the Portland metal scene. Now the band has recently released their long-anticipated first full-length LP of new material in November. The self titled release is available on CD, vinyl and digital formats through Necromantic Press Records. Exile Music will release the album on cassette. The CDs will feature the 1987 demo and a cover track recorded for Tribute To Headhunter Death Cult are offered in Brazil by Funeral Rites Records. DEAD CONSPIRACY have released a lyric video for “In the Wake of the Butcher,” a track from the band’s 2016 self-titled album. Continue reading →

Last week on Talk Toomey Podcast, Josh Toomey interviewed Obituary guitarist Trevor Peres. Trevor and Josh discuss adapting to the digital age, why they went with a self-titled album for the new release, other great Florida death metal bands, working at Morrisound Studios with Scott Burns and the story behind their 1994 music video, “Don’t Care”. The interview starts at around the 20 minute mark and can be streamed below. Also check out Obituary‘s newly released video for “Ten Thousand Ways To Die” below. ‘Obituary’ is available everywhere now. Continue reading →